The installation of thermal drying tunnels and machinery to dehydrate residual sludge allows it to be used, helping with its disposal, as the energy production associated with the drying process compensates the investment in these installations, in addition to providing a system to manage this waste and its quality control to guarantee the health and safety of the environment.

It is the most effective solution to treat sludge and recover its energy potential.

Studies on the recovery of the dehydrated biomass that results from the drying process have concluded that it is the best system to minimise energy consumption and environmental impacts.

The future will be the recovery of this residual energy generated by the production of residual sludge.

The production of sludge from wastewater treatment plants and its disposal represent a real problem for the environment.

Industrial and urban wastegeneration is on the rise and it is becoming increasingly necessary to find a suitable disposal solution.

The method most used is dumping in landfills, but this is not the most suitable or sustainable method in terms of costs and protection of the environment.

Research initiatives have resulted in the development of technological solutions that enable this waste to be treated and used in beneficial ways. One of these systems is thermal sludge drying, which consists of the application of heat to evaporate the high content of water in these biosolids.

The thermal sludge drying process is the result of this need to reuse the biosolids generated at wastewater treatment plants. The organic matter of dehydrated sludge produces a biogas that can be used to generate enough energy to cover the operational needs of the wastewater treatment plant, making the system energy and cost efficient.

The development, manufacture and installation of the machinery necessary for the drying treatment help the recycling of the sludge and could resolve a number of urgent economic and environmental problems:

To transform residual sludge from wastewater treatment plants, urban waste and industrial waste, an efficient system has been created to recover residual heat and convert it into energy to power the plants: thermal sludge drying.

Technological solutions in which research and development have created a new product: dehydrated sludge,

Our objective is to develop the necessary technology using heat pumps for the process to dry this waste and to provide the best sludge treatment system, optimising profits and costs and ensuring quality control and preventive measures so that the thermal drying of biosolids and urban waste is a process that guarantees reuse and helps to maintain the quality of the environment.

One of the most urgent environmental problems is the disposal of residual sludge from wastewater treatment plants.

Growing societal concerns about environmental protection, reducing energy consumption and looking after and preserving sources of raw material demand the reduction and disposal of waste in a safe and sustainable manner.

It is, therefore, of vital importance to develop clean technologies that ensure the reuse and recycling of waste that otherwise would contaminate the environment.

The impact the poor use of technology has had on the environment and on the excessive use of natural resources has led us to try to solve, at least to a small extent, the problems that have been caused.

This process produces new energy sources, electricity and sustainable heat, and reduces its volume, reducing transport and storage costs, achieving a product that is highly sanitised with great subsequent potential for use.

Accordingly, investment in installations for this purpose represents a saving, as its mission is to recover the greatest amount of energy from the waste while achieving maximum protection of the environment.

There are currently numerous studies and projects of great interest on the treatment and energy recovery of the dehydrated sludge produced at wastewater treatment plants:

- When reconverted into a neutral material it can be used to produce cement and asphalt and can be used in the manufacture of ceramics and bricks.

- Its transformation into mineral wool.

- Its use as an alternative fuelalternative fuel, recovering its residual energy and creating new sources of energy.

- Or its reuse in agriculture as compost and fertiliser, the use of which is regulated and controlled by the European Union to prevent high concentrations of certain substances and heavy metals and possible harmful effects to water, soil, plant life, animals and human health.

There was a need to produce practical and innovative recovery alternatives with a special emphasis on environmental safety.

Accordingly, our main concern is to improve the systems that are used for the treatment of this sludge, regardless of its final destination. Our objective is to make this product profitable and recoverable in terms of agricultural use or energy production.

Technological advances have enabled the development in recent years of more efficient processes to transform residual biomass, solid urban waste and wastewater treatment plant sludge into the gold of the future.

Residual products which had to be disposed of and had negative costs are now becoming significant economic savings as they in turn generate energy.

Biomass to produce electricity or heating and high-quality biofuelsfrom dehydrated sludge and biodiesel are now the main sources of renewable energy, considered to be the best solution to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and the pollution of the environment.

The treatment of sludge generated in wastewater treatment plants by low-temperature thermal drying is the result of research and the need to find viable solutions to the lack of energy resources and the current high levels of environmental pollution.